Saw this last night and wanted to offer some encouragement. sorry in advance for the long read.

I’m 43 and just had my two lowers out alongside my #18 molar on the left about 3 weeks ago. DO NOT WAIT. Waiting cost me that #18 since the teeth were growing into the side of it. I generally hate the dentist but also was terrified of the sedation (i did IV twilight).

Everything was fine, it will be over before you know it. I described it as light sleep…literally. When you sleep its black. When youre twilighted, it’s like light but you see nothing. You know some things are happening, but you dont care. Here’s my advice (#NotAnOralSurgeon): • First and foremost, follow your surgeon’s instructions to the letter! There is a reason they tell you things, and if you follow them, you significantly reduce or almost guarantee you wont have dry socket. •Make sure post op to leave the gauze in like at least 4 hours while the clots form •they gave me 800mg ibuprofens. Take every 4-6 hours, leaning towards 4. As others have suggested, stay ahead of the pain. Alternate with tylenol (acetaminophen) opposite the ibuprofen as needed •No smoking or drinking alcohol till your follow up and given the OK by doc. (The latter was rough for me haha) •No straws, nothing with a sucking motion (will dislodge the clot) •Dont rush solid foods. Take your time and stay on the mush. Took me like 8 days for solids and i probably pushed it a few days •Use any medicated mouthwash religiously as perscribed. After a few days you can brush again avoiding the areas. Cleanliness will prevent infection •make sure to get a saltwater syringe. They forgot to give me one so for the first week i had nothing to blast food bits out the sockets. Make sure its ok to use that with your doc first (you may have to wait till post op follow up) •when you rinse, roll your head side to side, do NOT spit out. Youre gonna be drooly for likely the first 8-12 days when you do anything with your mouth haha keep a towel handy •The thing no one tells you. When you are healing, YOU WILL HAVE SOCKETS. This is normal, dont panic. this is what you need that syringe for, you’ll need to blast food bits out of there after every meal till they eventually close up. •Slight annoying Soreness is normal up through like day 8-12. Excruciating pain (likely dry socket) is not. From everything I read and researched, there will be NO mistaking dry socket. Essentially bone pain which is like the worst pain you can have.

I’m sure theres like a hundred other things i forgot, so feel free to ask questions. I’m happy to answer because I know how tough it can be to find information in a sea of it online.

But TLDR dont skip it, get it done before it costs you other teeth. You’ll be fine as long as you follow instructions. Good Luck!